[Event "Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge"] [Site "Weissenhaus, Germany"] [Date "2024.02.14"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "2020009"] [BlackElo "2725"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "13300474"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/AAArmstark"] [FEN "qnbrkrnb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/QNBRKRNB w FDfd - 0 1"] [Variant "Chess960"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "Freestyle G.O.A.T. Challenge"] [ChapterName "Caruana, Fabiano - Aronian, Levon"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/FO3zez69/gPz8jnWc"] [Orientation "white"] 1. b4 { [%eval 0.16] [%clk 0:15:00] } 1... b6 { [%eval 0.1] [%clk 0:15:19] } 2. Bb2 { [%eval 0.14] [%clk 0:14:57] } 2... Qe4 { [%eval 0.61] [%clk 0:13:43] } 3. a3 { [%eval 0.62] [%clk 0:13:14] } 3... Bb7 { [%eval 0.91] [%clk 0:10:23] } 4. Nf3 { [%eval 0.92] [%clk 0:12:58] } 4... Nf6 { [%eval 1.2] [%clk 0:09:34] } 5. g3 { [%eval 1.18] [%clk 0:12:14] } 5... O-O-O { [%eval 1.51] [%clk 0:08:50] } 6. Nc3 { [%eval 0.81] [%clk 0:10:40] } 6... Qf5 { [%eval 0.76] [%clk 0:08:41] } 7. O-O { [%eval 0.7] [%clk 0:10:35] } 7... Qh5 { [%eval 0.73] [%clk 0:08:20] } 8. Bg2 { [%eval 0.94] [%clk 0:09:51] } 8... Ng4 { [%eval 1.22] [%clk 0:05:50] } 9. h3 { [%eval 1.42] [%clk 0:09:51] } 9... Ne5 { [%eval 1.39] [%clk 0:05:26] } 10. Nxe5 { [%eval 1.41] [%clk 0:09:06] } 10... Bxg2 { [%eval 1.21] [%clk 0:05:34] } 11. Kxg2 { [%eval 1.22] [%clk 0:09:15] } 11... Qxe5 { [%eval 1.21] [%clk 0:05:43] } 12. d4 { [%eval 1.16] [%clk 0:09:21] } 12... Qh5 { [%eval 1.19] [%clk 0:05:48] } 13. a4 { [%eval 1.12] [%clk 0:08:27] } 13... a6 { [%eval 1.58] [%clk 0:05:13] } 14. d5 { [%eval 1.42] [%clk 0:07:54] } 14... g5 { [%eval 1.46] [%clk 0:05:13] } 15. a5 { [%eval 1.66] [%clk 0:06:53] } 15... Bxc3 { [%eval 1.83] [%clk 0:05:08] } 16. Bxc3 { [%eval 1.8] [%clk 0:07:01] } 16... b5 { [%eval 1.75] [%clk 0:05:18] } 17. Rd2 { [%eval 0.88] } { As far as good bishops versus bad knights go, this is a rather extreme example. Black's knight remains on b8 for most of the game, emerging only to get trapped in the middle of the queenside. } { [%clk 0:03:22] } 17... f5?! { [%eval 1.56] [%clk 0:05:07] } (17... Qg6! { was vital prophylaxis: } 18. Bb2 { White should continue to prepare c2-c4, but at least now } 18... Qe4+ 19. f3 Qxb4 { causes some disruption, though White is better after } 20. Rd4! Qc5 21. c4 b4 22. Bc1 $16 { Black still has problems to solve with the horrific knight on b8, but might gain space in the center with ... e7-e5 and ... f7-f5 on the horizon. }) 18. Bg7 { [%eval 1.55] } { White achieves c2-c4 with tempo! } { [%clk 0:03:16] } 18... Rf7 { [%eval 1.5] [%clk 0:04:22] } 19. c4 { [%eval 1.38] [%clk 0:03:15] } 19... f4 { [%eval 2.05] [%clk 0:03:45] } 20. cxb5 { [%eval 1.94] } { Black's pawns are nothing to fear. } { [%clk 0:01:38] } 20... g4 { [%eval 2.42] [%clk 0:03:53] } 21. h4 { [%eval 2.37] } { Thanks to the tried-and-trued "just push past" technique. } { [%clk 0:01:12] } 21... fxg3 { [%eval 2.44] [%clk 0:03:32] } 22. fxg3 { [%eval 2.38] [%clk 0:00:39] } 22... Rxf1 { [%eval 2.21] [%clk 0:03:36] } 23. Qxf1 { [%eval 2.55] [%clk 0:00:36] } 23... Qg6 { [%eval 2.51] [%clk 0:03:39] } 24. bxa6! { [%eval 2.28] } { The poor b8-knight makes a6-a7 a much more serious threat, allowing White this fantastic intermezzo rather than forcing him to defend the hanging bishop on g7. } { [%clk 0:00:41] } 24... Nxa6 { [%eval 2.93] [%clk 0:03:02] } 25. e3 { [%eval 3.1] } { Now, of course, the queen is tied to defending her steed on a6, so the g7-bishop remains invincible. } { [%clk 0:00:48] } 25... Nxb4 { [%eval 4.69] } { White just needs one accurate attacking move to secure a winning advantage: } { [%clk 0:02:12] } 26. Qc4! { [%eval 4.71] [%clk 0:00:47] } 26... Qxg7 { [%eval 6.74] [%clk 0:00:32] } (26... Qd6 27. Bc3 { somehow traps the knight! }) 27. Qxb4 { [%eval 6.3] [%clk 0:00:56] } 27... Qa1 { [%eval #12] } { White's attack continues with the subtlety of a tank, yet Aronian is unable to do anything to avoid: } { [%clk 0:00:41] } (27... d6 28. a6 { was what Black had to prevent, hence Aronian's queen move. }) 28. Rb2 { [%eval 6.34] [%clk 0:00:42] } 28... d6 { [%eval 6.18] [%clk 0:00:48] } 29. Qxg4+ { [%eval 6.25] [%clk 0:00:50] } 29... Rd7 { [%eval 6.24] [%clk 0:00:58] } 30. Rf2 { [%eval 6.06] } { winning the rook after Rf2-f8+, as ... Kc8-d8 gets mated by Rf2-f8#. } { [%clk 0:00:31] } 1-0